Sicily

DOC for dry red, rosé and white wines on the island of Sicily off the coast of Italy. This is a very old wine-growing area, wines from here are mentioned in the „Storia die Vini d´Italia“ (History of Italian wines), published in 1696, their exceptional quality is ascribed to the ash and soot blown over from Mount Etna. The zone includes parts of the communes of Aci Sant´Antonio, Acireale, Belpasso, Biancavilla, Castiglione di Sicilia, Giarre, Linguaglossa, Mascali, Milo, Nicolosi, Paterno, Pedara, Piedimonte Etneo, Randazzo, Santa Maria di Licodia, Santa Venerina, Sant´Alfio, Trecastagni, Viagrande and Zafferana Etnea all around the slopes of the Mount Etna volcano in the province of Catania. The Bianco is made from Carricante (60-100%), Catarratto Bianco Comune or Catarratto Bianco Lucido (up to 40%), as well as optionally any combination of Trebbiano, Minella Bianca and other permitted white varieties (up to 15%). The Bianco Superiore is made from the same grape varieties, but may be produced only in the commune of Milo. Rosso and Rosato are made from Nerello Mascalese (80-100%), Nerello Mantellato (up to 20%), as well as from other permitted white varieties (up to 10%).